Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux proudly present the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition, the first Laureato timepiece to feature a green ceramic case and bracelet. This is the latest collaboration between the prestigious Swiss maison and the British ultra-luxury marque, two institutions with a rich history of creating iconic products that stand the test of time, through excellence in design, materials and craftsmanship.
While some of the materials used for this new timepiece are ultra-modern, the essence of Girard-Perregaux’s inaugural 1975 Laureato, which translates to English as “Graduate” and was named following the 1970s film, has been respected. The highly exclusive Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition is offered in a choice of two case sizes – 42mm and 38mm – and limited to just 388 and 188 examples.
Sleek, contemporary and notably elegant, the design of the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition encompasses elements inspired by Aston Martin cars, from powerful engines to sleek contours and lightweight construction. It is this latter trait which encouraged Girard-Perregaux to equip this new model with skeletonised ‘baton’ type hour and minute hands, both light and functional. The watch dial is presented in a cross-hatch design, a diamond-like pattern found on Aston Martin’s original ‘AM’ logo used from 1921-1926, as well as the quilted leather upholstery found in some of the marque’s high-performance vehicles.
In the same way that the timeless design of the Laureato has attracted the admiration of enlightened commentators and watch aficionados, Aston Martin has repeatedly shown its prowess for sculpting iconic shapes that have never lost their appeal. Whether it’s a DB4 of the early 60s, a DBS V8 of the 70s or a modern-day Vantage, all models share the same attributes of elegance, luxury and performance.
Aston Martin’s iconic association with the colour green began many decades ago, when manufacturers raced in the colours of their country of origin, in this case British Racing Green. Since then, Aston Martin racing cars have competed in various shades of green before resting on the now familiar Aston Martin Racing Green, which adorns its Formula 1® cars. It was a logical conclusion for this co-branded timepiece to be dressed in green, a colour that evokes thoughts of performance and success.
Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, said: “From the outset, the design of the Laureato was distinctive, yet cohesive. Its styling encompassed geometric, clean-cut lines while exhibiting a slightly gentle character. Contrasting polished and satin finished surfaces, an ergonomic integrated bracelet and, of course, as always, an in-house movement… these are the essential ingredients which have made the Laureato a remarkable success. The same ingredients are much in evidence with the new Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition, along with the addition of an interesting, highly contemporary material.”
Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, of Aston Martin added: “Our goal was to conceive an advanced luxury product. Interestingly, Patrick and I spent a lot of time talking about the folklore of the Laureato and the design play between shape and proportion of its iconic bezel. When he shared GP’s exploration into the optical properties of technical ceramics, micro beads and microns, I became quite enchanted by this idea of the past becoming the future. We’re always exploring combinations of technology, colour, and materials in Aston Martin sports cars to enrich performance, functionality and owner enjoyment. Together we’ve fused these ideas and attributes to generate this cool new Aston Martin GP Laureato”.
Both Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux operate within a world of excellence, where time-honoured skills imbue products with a distinctive character and an enduring quality, creating rare objects that confer lasting appeal. The Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition is the latest offering from this unique collaboration, which began in 2021. Presented in a 42mm or 38mm model, the new timepiece will be available to buy worldwide in selected Girard-Perregaux retailers from June 2023.
